Relationship of behavioral and psychological symptoms to cognitive impairment and functional status in Alzheimer's disease

Objective. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship of behavior al and psychological symptoms to cognitive and functional impairment in Alz heimer's disease (AD). Design. One hundred and fourteen patients were evaluated consecutively at a university-affiliate outpatient memory disorders clinic and diagnosed with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to NINCDS-ADRDA cr iteria. Subjects were assessed with the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (BEHAVE-AD), Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist ( RMBPC), Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MM SE). Results. Several symptoms of behavioral pathology showed associations with MMSE scores, including activity disturbances, delusions, and hallucinations . After controlling for the variance associated with the MMSE, activity dis turbances, diurnal disturbances, delusions, and hallucinations were linked with BDS scores. Conclusions. The results suggest that some non-cognitive symptoms may be re lated to the neurobiologic mechanisms underlying the increased cognitive dy sfunction in AD. Specific symptoms of behavioral pathology may also impact a patient's ability to perform important self-maintenance behaviors. Copyri ght (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.